Olympics-themed Tread the Med to begin Feb. 27

Tread the Med, the School of Medicine’s popular 100-day wellness program that encourages participants to walk 10,000 steps each day, is set to begin Thursday, Feb. 27, with an Olympics-themed kickoff on the Medical Campus.

The kickoff will be 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ellen S. Clark Hope Plaza near the reflection pool. James P. Crane, MD, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs, will offer a recap of the most recent Tread the Med — Tread the Med Serengeti — and recognize its top achievers.

Morgan

Kerri Morgan — a bronze-medal winner in the 2012 Paralympic Games and an instructor in occupational therapy and in neurology — also will address the crowd.

Participants at the event may enter for a chance to win VIP passes to the St. Louis Science Center and a Visa gift card.

The goal for Tread the Med participants is to walk 500 miles, or 1 million steps, in 100 days. Walkers are encouraged to envision themselves “virtually” walking from St. Louis to Sochi, Russia, site of the Winter Games.

Participants are given a pedometer and asked to measure progress toward daily and weekly goals.

While Feb. 27 marks the official start of the latest round of Tread the Med, participants may register through March 5. The program will end June 6.

All School of Medicine employees are eligible to participate. Those interested may register via this link for $5, via payroll deduction.

Registration also will be available Friday, Feb. 14, at the Health Happening Fair at the Eric P. Newman Education Center.